Meaning
练习 means to practice or drill something repeatedly to improve skill or proficiency. As a noun, it refers to practice activities, exercises, or drills. It's one of the most common words for any kind of skill-building practice, from language learning to sports to musical instruments.
Usage
Native speakers use 练习 for both formal and informal practice contexts. It commonly appears with specific skills like 练习汉语 (practice Chinese), 练习钢琴 (practice piano), or 练习写字 (practice writing). It can take objects directly or be followed by verbs. More informal than 训练 (training) but less casual than 练练 (practice a bit).
Examples
- 01我每天都练习说中文。.I practice speaking Chinese every day.
- 02老师给我们布置了很多练习题。.The teacher assigned us a lot of practice problems.
Characters
Measure words
- 次练习一次
- 个一个练习
Common collocations
- 练习口语to practice speaking
- 做练习to do exercises
- 练习题practice problems/exercises
- 反复练习to practice repeatedly
Origin
Both characters relate to practice and repetition. 练 originally depicted silk being boiled and refined repeatedly, suggesting the idea of refining through repetition. 习 shows a bird practicing flight, representing learning through repeated practice.